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Does anyone know how to remove the tip (ball) of the radio antennas? I believe 51-56 were all pretty much the same. I think they were screwed on but I thought I would ask here to see if anyone knew or had practical experience doing this.

Randy, looked at several from those years and they do all appear to screw on. About 1/4 inch of threads. Some were flat top and others had a conical tip. Couldn't tell you which years what.

Thanks Howard. I was going to clamp two small oak blocks to the ball and two more to the mast and then try to unscrew them. The tips on 55-56 are perfect spheres.

I used a section of wide leather belt with a little rosin on it, clamped the antenna rod between the leather in the vise, ditto on the ball but used vise grips. Came right off, minimal effort.

Thanks Dave - also a good suggestion. I think I like the leather belt better than my two oak blocks.

Howard,

I have seen a mish-mash of styles, but on all the original unmolested cars I've seen, the frot antenna mast had the six-sided tip with flats and the dual rears had the spherical tip.

Howard,

I have two front antennas apart now and restoring one for the 56.


one has six flats and measures .250 across the flats
and screws on

the other is slightly larger and measures .275 across the flats and screws on.

the threads are not the same between them.
I do not know which is original maby both of them are.
or one is an older model.
This is something that most people do not measure
I would not have if they were the same size.

I am going to choose the ,250 as it is in better shape.

ronv